Konami has officially confirmed that its title Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be taken offline next month, marking the end of its availability on Apple Arcade. The game, which has been a part of the Apple Arcade library since its debut on the platform in September 2021, will be removed from the service’s catalog on August 20.
After that date, the title will no longer be downloadable, and on September 3 the online servers that support gameplay will be shut down, rendering the game completely unplayable for anyone who does not already have it installed and can run it offline. In a statement posted on Konami’s official website, the company reflected on the game’s lifecycle and the decision to end support. "Since its launch on Apple Arcade in September 2021, the game has continued to be supported by many players," the statement read. "However, we have decided to terminate the service [in September]." The company went on to thank its community, saying, "We would like to express our gratitude to all of our players for their enthusiastic support throughout the years.
The entire development and operations team sincerely thanks you for being part of this journey." To understand why this shutdown matters, it helps to look back at the origins of Grimoire of Souls. The title first appeared in September 2019 as a free‑to‑play mobile game for iOS and Android, initially released only in the Canadian market. That original version relied on in‑game currency and microtransactions, a common monetisation model for mobile titles at the time.
After roughly a year, Konami discontinued the original mobile iteration, but the concept was not abandoned. Instead, the studio re‑imagined the game for Apple’s subscription‑based gaming service, Apple Arcade, and relaunched it across multiple Apple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS.
The Apple Arcade version represented a significant overhaul. Konami stripped out all forms of microtransactions and in‑game purchases, aligning the experience with Apple Arcade’s promise of an ad‑free, no‑extra‑cost environment. In addition to removing the monetisation layer, the developers refreshed the user interface, refined the level layouts, and upgraded the visual fidelity to take advantage of the higher‑resolution displays available on Apple devices. These changes were intended to give both new players and longtime fans a smoother, more immersive experience that felt true to the classic Castlevania aesthetic while also embracing modern design sensibilities.
Grimoire of Souls is not the only title slated for removal in the near future. The gaming industry has seen a wave of online‑dependent games reaching the end of their operational lifespans as publishers reassess the cost of maintaining servers versus the size of the active player base. In the coming months, several other high‑profile games will also be taken offline. Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo’s mobile spin‑off of the beloved racing franchise, is scheduled to cease operations in September.
Following that, Warner Bros. Interactive’s Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem will be shut down in October, and Sony’s Destruction AllStars, another title that relied on server‑based matchmaking, will go offline in November. These closures underscore a broader trend: as subscription services and live‑service models mature, publishers are increasingly pruning their portfolios to focus on titles that sustain ongoing engagement and revenue. For players who have invested time in Grimoire of Souls, the shutdown means that any progress made after the August 20 delisting date will be lost once the servers go dark on September 3.
Those who wish to preserve their experience should consider downloading any available offline content before the removal deadline. However, because much of the game’s core functionality—such as unlocking new characters, accessing shared leaderboards, and participating in timed events—relied on online connectivity, a fully offline version is not feasible. The decision to end service also reflects the challenges of maintaining legacy online games on platforms that evolve rapidly.
Apple Arcade, while offering a curated selection of premium titles, does not guarantee indefinite support for every game in its library. As new titles are added and subscriber expectations shift, older games may be retired to make room for fresh experiences.
Konami’s acknowledgment of the community’s support and its expression of thanks suggest a respectful closure rather than an abrupt disappearance. In summary, Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple Arcade on August 20, with its online components fully disabled on September 3, ending the ability for players to engage with the game. The move follows a pattern of service terminations across the industry, affecting other popular mobile and console titles in the months ahead. Fans are encouraged to cherish the memories they’ve made in the game and to keep an eye on future announcements from Konami and other developers regarding new projects or potential replacements for the experiences they will soon lose.